Controversial King's Lynn scheme toned down

The developer behind a controversial mixed-use scheme on King's Lynn's historic waterfront has pledged to scale back architect Chaplin Farrant’s original proposal.

Developer Inner Circle had come under fire from heritage and conservation groups King's Lynn Preservation Trust and King's Lynn Civic Society, which had lambasted Norwich-based Chaplin Farrant’s designs for a nine-storey hotel and new homes in the Norfolk town.

The boss of English Heritage, Simon Thurley, who is a King’s Lynn resident has also waded into the row, describing the designs as ‘flat-pack building’ and the scheme as a whole as ‘a large, out of keeping, (and) not in any way relevant to King’s Lynn's architecture’.

But now Inner Circle development manager Lee Fitzpatrick has revealed that following comments from a recent public consultation, he has ordered Chaplin Farrant to scale back the scheme ‘by two to three storeys’.

‘We are not the sort of company to steamroller over everyone. By reducing the height and changing the materials we will also produce a better scheme,’ said Fitzpatrick.

Chaplin Farrant will present Fitzpatrick with the new designs tomorrow (1 November).